Fears over smell as £6 million poultry farm planned for Penkridge

Bosses at Pillaton Foods Ltd have lodged proposals for land at Cannock Road, Pillaton, Penkridge.

But the move has sparked fears over the potential smell faced by nearby residents.

It would see eight poultry buildings built, as well as feed rooms and a site office. Around seven new jobs would also be created.

Nearby resident Melanie Spencer, of Pillaton Lane, said residents feared they would be plagued by smells coming from the development.

"It will be a big thing for a small village in terms of the visual impact."

Mrs Spencer, who lives with husband Jefferson, 55 and two-year-old son Sebastian added: "We are right next to a cricket club where people bring their families and over the road from that there's camping facilities so it is a place where people come to be in the countryside."

She added that residents were hoping to gather a petition and were urging people to oppose the scheme in writing to South Staffordshire Council.

Planning documents produced by agents Ian Pick Associates state: "The applicants are existing poultry farmers within South Staffordshire, operating an existing broiler rearing unit at Gailey Lea Lane, Hatherton.

"The applicants propose to invest in the expansion of their poultry production business through a new poultry farm on land at Cannock Road, Pillaton.

"The use of the proposed buildings is for the rearing of broilers from one day old chicks through to finished table weight.

"The birds are placed in the sheds as day old chicks and are reared for 42 days when they reach finished table weight.

"Following depopulation the site will be empty for 10 days for cleaning. The site will operate with seven flocks per annum."

Documents add that the proposed development will house 482,000 birds with 60,250 birds per building.

Plans added: "The proposed development involves an additional investment in buildings and infrastructure by the applicants of approximately £6m."

The new jobs created will include three full time roles on the site and more in the allied industry.

Planning agent Ian Pick told the Express & Star: "We have gone through all of the environmental impact assessments in terms of land quality and transport and that site ticked all the boxes."

Mr Pick added that subject to approval, work could start in the new year.

"It would take about six months to develop the site, we would be talking the beginning of next year as starting the work," he said.